The Downtown Confidential

Development Activity

Ace Cafe Orlando, the first North American location of the celebrated London-based motor-diner and the sixth Ace Cafe in the world, rolled its doors open in May 2017. The 35,000-square-foot dining, entertainment, and retail destination reinvigorates a key parcel in Downtown Orlando now known as “Ace Corner,” where it expects to draw more than 400,000 people annually.

Ace Cafe Orlando spans two floors and features a full-service restaurant, two kitchens, four bars, a coffee bar, a communal counter, a mezzanine that overlooks the main floor dining area and stage, and private and semi-private spaces for groups both large and small. The Ace is also family-friendly, complete with shareable appetizers, fresh super food salads, gluten-free options, and a children’s menu, not to mention all the eye-catching cool cars and bikes on display on any given day.

Since 1938, Ace Cafe London has been a mecca for those passionate about cars, bikes and rock ’n roll culture. The original location on London’s North Circular Road began as a roadside cafe for truckers, then evolved into a popular destination for rock ‘n roll-loving teens riding motorbikes during the '50s and '60s. Today, the Ace has a multi-generational appeal among motorsports enthusiasts from all over the world. Other Ace Cafe locations around the globe include London, Lahti, Beijing, Lucerne and Barcelona.

Creative Village builds upon the success of Orlando’s digital media industry by transforming the former Amway Arena site into a 68-acre mixed-use, transit oriented, urban infill neighborhood in Downtown Orlando.

The vision for Creative Village focuses on creating a true “live, learn, work, and play” urban destination through a development plan that supports a synergistic and dynamic mix of uses including office/creative studios, higher education, K-12 education, mixed-income residential, retail/commercial, and hotel.

The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is a vibrant performing arts and entertainment destination located in Downtown. Site configuration allows for private development to surround the Dr. Phillips Center. The Walt Disney Theater, Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, and Seneff Arts Plaza opened November 2014.

In March 2017, the groundbreaking for Phase 2 took place. Phase 2 will add a 1,700-seat acoustical theater, Steinmetz Hall, which will be home to the Orlando Ballet and Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, the arts center’s resident companies, and The Green Room – a large rehearsal room and performance space.

The Orlando Stadium is a 100% privately funded project and home to Orlando City, Orlando Pride, and Orlando City B. The site is two blocks away from the Amway Center and allows for synergy between the two facilities and increased activity in the surrounding community. The stadium features club seating, 29 premium suites, lounge boxes, and Group Suites. As a tribute to the 49 victims who lost their lives in the mass shooting at an Orlando nightclub, there are 49 permanent rainbow chairs each adorned with #OrlandoUnited. Orlando City Stadium consists of 435,000 square feet which includes 600 square feet of retail space, 17,000 square feet of office, and 15,000 square feet of club space, and seating for 25,500.

Mayor Dyer and the Orlando City Council have made a commitment to bring quality and affordable housing options to the Parramore neighborhood. To achieve this, the City has developed a multi-pronged approach that includes multi-family developments, infill single family development, and exploring changes to design standards.

To increase the number of homeowners in Parramore, the City’s CRA issued an RFP earlier this year for developers to design and build single family houses within the CRA on City-owned lots. The City has identified lots near the OCPS Academic Center for Excellence and south of the 408 that will be made available for construction of new homes.

The City is seeking to build at least 10 new homes that would be a minimum of 3 bed/2 bath and 1,300 square feet of living area. The CRA will include multi-year home warranties at sale to cover certain home systems and appliances.
The CRA is also creating a new program, the CRA Down Payment Assistance Program, to provide additional financial assistance aimed at making these homes more affordable for qualified buyers. This new program will complement existing city and state down payment assistance programs.

The Sports and Entertainment District (SED) is a proposed mixed-use development adjacent to world-class Amway Center on 8.43 acres. Proposed uses include hotel, expo space, retail, office, and residential all supported by structured parking. The SED will include several structures integrated into four general masses. The development program includes at least 34,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space oriented toward Church Street and Central Avenue. The project will occur in phases. Phase 1 construction consists of a parking garage, office, and mixed-use retail. Phase 2A consists of the hotel and expo center, and Phase 2B consists of the residential complex which will be a high rise tower with a dedicated parking garage with low-rise residential liner.

Downtown Orlando is a walkable, liveable city where it is easy and convenient to get around. The City of Orlando and Downtown Development Board are committed to ensuring there are diverse options for residents and visitors to get around and connect to entertainment and nightlife, all the while reducing the impact on the environment. Today, residents and visitors can enjoy multimodal forms of transportation options including:

Bike Share: Downtown Orlando’s bike share program increases mobility in the urban core, connects to existing transit and provides another affordable transportation option around the area.

Car Share: Zipcar, the world’s leading car sharing network, is now available in Downtown Orlando. Residents, businesses, visitors and students now have access to Zipcar’s affordable, convenient and sustainable transportation option.

I-4 Ultimate Improvement Project: I-4 Ultimate is an important project for Central Florida. The 21-mile makeover - from west of Kirkman Road in Orange County to east of State Road 434 in Seminole County - will transform the region while connecting our communities, improving our economy and enhancing livability for everyone. The project includes four new Express Lanes, reconstructed interchanges, and completely rebuilt bridges. The project is expected to be completed in 2021.

UCF Downtown will be the academic heart of a city that’s attracting national attention for its entrepreneurial, high-tech and creative economy.

Already home to UCF’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy, the new campus will bring students Downtown to study degree programs that align with emerging industries Downtown.

Imagine 7,700 students living, learning and working in Downtown Orlando – transforming our economic future and kick-starting the City of Orlando’s largest public-private partnership, the $1 billion Creative Village development.

In partnership with Valencia College, the new campus will provide innovative education for high-demand fields that integrate with industry and place thousands of students within walking distance of jobs and internships.

UCF Downtown will offer degrees in digital media and communication, health information technology and administration, and community-facing programs like social work and legal studies – connecting highly skilled talent with industry needs, neighborhood synergies and new opportunities.

The I-4 Ultimate construction, which is currently underway and scheduled to conclude in 2021, will provide a completely rebuilt overpass through the Downtown core. This space will provide new dimensions to the former "Bridge District" area, being both higher and wider than the previous I-4 bridges, and present a new opportunity to create a special place in Downtown.

Orlando is known as a City for everyone and that includes being a place where individuals and families of all types can enjoy the unique experiences and quality of life found only in Orlando. The vision for Under-i is to be a best-in-the-nation urban park that revitalizes a former underutilized area beneath the I-4 bridge decks, and becomes a dynamic and inviting space that links the east and west sides of Downtown. The park is envisioned to feature active recreation opportunities, aesthetic lighting, performance spaces, artwork, and areas for vendors, creating a new Downtown amenity and gathering place for our community.

Construction of the Under-i is expected to commence upon completion of the I-4 Ultimate project in 2021. Construction of Under-i is estimated to take 1 - 1.5 years to complete.

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Orlando, FL 32801

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Downtown Business Spotlight
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